PERKY LEAGUE: Collegeville edges Skippack on walk-off double

COLLEGEVILLE — Skippack’s Tyler Eckman and Collegeville’s Brandon Bruno did Thursday night what they usually do: Pitch very, very well.

The two were locked in a pitcher’s duel throughout the Perky League contest — each tossed a complete game — but Bruno and Collegeville came out on top on Jon McGlone’s walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh with a 2-1 win.

“Both pitchers threw well tonight,” Collegeville player manager Andrew Miller said. “It was definitely a pitcher’s duel, and it was good to get the W.”

The lone run Bruno gave up came in the fifth on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Matt Albaugh. Otherwise, Bruno was stellar, scattering three hits and fanning nine Skippack batters across his seven innings of work.

Bruno has done a few tours through the Perky League, and though he doesn’t overpower hitters, he usually manages to find a way to get them out regardless.

“He’s consistent,” Miller said of the Sox hurler.

“He always throws strikes and keeps hitters off-balance and you don’t have to throw hard to be effective and win in this league. You’ve just to put it in a good spot.”

Collegeville (5-3) tacked on a run in the fifth, and two innings later, the Sox managed to push the game-winner across the plate.

Marc Wagner led off the seventh with a bloop single and Miller’s single put runners on first and second for McGlone, who promptly laced a gapper into left-center to end the game.

At the plate for the Sox, Tyler Kirkpatrick was the only batter to tally more than one hit, and went 2-for-2 with a hit by pitch and a run scored. McGlone finished the night 1-for-4.

No Skippack player had more than one hit and Rob Zinsmeister scored the lone run for the Wranglers (2-1-2).

Eckman performed admirably in the loss, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning and struck out five while scattering six hits.

“When he pitches a game like that, we’ve got to score some runs for him,” Skippack manager Jeff Murtha said. “We had opportunities, but we just didn’t cut it.

“We’ve got to have timely hitting.”

Eckman pitches for NCAA Division II East Stroudsburg and Murtha had nothing but words of praise for his starter.

“He takes the ball once a week and keep us in the game… You know what to expect out of him,” Murtha said. “You know he’s going to go out there and challenge people. He’s one of our best pitchers and I’m really happy to have him.

“I’m not too worried about the bats,” Murtha said. “That’s not really a concern of mine. We’ll hit — I’ve got two guys that were playing (independent) ball (Zinsmeister and Albaugh) a couple weeks ago in my lineup, so I’m not too concerned.”

Miller is also not particularly concerned with his team’s stale night at the plate.

“I think that it’s just a combination of getting ourselves into good shape and facing a good pitcher,” Miller said. “(Eckman) threw well.”

Skippack’s next contest is at Lansdale Friday at 7:30 p.m., while Collegeville will host Pottstown in their next game on Monday at 6 p.m.